Rotary filament cutter

ABSTRACT

A rotary filament cutter is disclosed having a rotating cylindrical cutting element within a stationary cylindrical cutting housing. These two elements, in conjunction with driving means, cut filaments moving in any type of filament string-up process.

United States Patent [19] Flower et al.

[451 Feb. 26, 1974 ROTARY FILAMENT CUTTER [76] Inventors: Thomas A.Flower, 109 Lakeview Ave., Colonial Heights, Va. 23834; Noel YorkRothmayer, 2 Spring Garden Dr., Madison, NJ. 07940 221 Filed: Nov.13,1972

21 Appl. No.: 306,226

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.91,802, Nov. 23,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 83/199, 83/580, 83/694, 83/913 [51] Int. Cl B23d 31/00, B23d35/00 [58] Field of Search..... 83/199, 200, 580, 582, 583, 83/584, 694,673, 674, 913, 909

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,149,518 9/1964 Winestock33/199 X 2,428,650 10/1947 Brunner 83/199 Primary Examiner-J. M. MeisterAttorney, Agent, or FirmRichard A. Anderson 5 7] ABSTRACT A rotaryfilament cutter is disclosed having a rotating cylindrical cuttingelement within a stationary cylindrical cutting housing. These twoelements, in conjunction with driving means, cut filaments moving in anytype of filament string-up process.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures Pmzmw wz 3.793.917

SHEEI 2 OF 3 INVENTORS Thomas A. Flower Y Noel X Roi/mayor has hATTORNEY ROTARY FILAMENT CU'I'IER This application is acontinuation-in-part of US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 91,802, filed Nov.23, 1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a filament cutter.

Electrical plunger type filament cutters presently in use are prone tojamming from build-up of foreign materials on the cutter, and are notself-sharpening. By filament is meant wire, rope, thread andparticularly natural or synthetic yarn, monofilament or multifilament.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The rotary filament cutter of this inventioncomprises two major components: a rotating cylindrical cutting elementand a stationary cylindrical cutting element.

The rotating cutter element fits inside the stationary cutter element.Both have conical ends with a slot through which the filament passes.

The internal cylindrical cutting mechanism is designed in such a mannerthat its conical end is pressed by means of a spring against theinternalconical end of the external stationary portion. The stationary portionis shaped to provide a tapered cutting edge to the yarn. When theinternal portion is rotated through an arc the yarn is forced againstthe tapered cutting edge and is cut. Both external and internal portionsare hardened and lapped together to a fine tolerance. As the internalportion rotates, it sharpens itself against the external portion bywear. In this manner, the normal wear is utilized to keep the cuttersharp, i.e., sharpening a knife against a steel bar such as a meat knifefor carving. The rotary motion can be provided by means of electric, gasor mechanical means through a shaft attached to the internal portion.The internal portion is free to move axially on this shaft and is pushedforward by a spring. As wear occurs, the spring holds the cuttingsurfaces in constant contact.

This device will cut yarn of to over 15,000 denier without binding asthe present cutting devices do. The fact that the cutter isself-sharpening and self-cleaning is a unique and specific feature ofthis design. It can be driven by electric, gas or mechanical means. Itis capable of replacing all present filament cutters used in yarn makingequipment.

It is relatively immune to the physical abuse, and dirty environmentnormal to industrial use.

The device of this invention can be threaded more directly, i.e., frontloading vs. side loading,'and more easily than prior art cutters.

The rotary filament cutter of this invention is particularly useful tocut yarn moving in continuous textile processing machinery when defectsare sensed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of therotating cylindrical cutting element.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the rotating cylindrical cutting element.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the rotating cylindrical cutter element.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the stationary cylindrical cutter element.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view, with partial cross-section, and partiallycut away of the stationary cylindrical cutter element.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the rotary cylindrical cutter element in placewithin the stationary cylindrical cutter element.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the assembled cutter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show rotatingcylindrical cutter element 1. Ceramic insert 2 is shown removed fromcavity 3. Ceramic insert 2 has a conduit 4 for passage of a filament orfilaments. Conduit 5 in cutter element 1 is also for passage offilament. Cavity 6 is for motive means not shown. Orifices 7 are forfastening motive means. Rotary cutter edge 8 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.It can be seen rotating cylindrical cutter element has a truncatedconical section 13 at one end.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show stationary cylindrical cutter element 10 with cavity11 for rotating cylindrical cutter element 1. Cavity 11 has taperedsection 12 to receive conical end of rotating cutter element 1.Stationary cutter edge 9 is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of rotating cylindrical cutter element 1 inplace in cavity 11. FIG. 6 also shows ceramic insert 2 in place incavity 3. Filaments can pass through conduit 5 between rotating cutteredge 8 and stationary cutter edge 9.

In use, filaments pass through conduit 5 in rotating cutter element 1and conduit 4 in ceramic insert 2. When it is desired to cut thefilament or filaments, rotating cutter element 1 is rotated clockwise bymeans not shown. Thus rotary cutter edge 8 moves toward stationarycutter edge 9. Movement of rotating element 1 continues until thefilaments are sheared between the cutter edges 8 and 9.

The rotating cutter element is spring loaded by means not shown so thatthe conical section 13 is always urged forward into the tapered section12. In this way the cutting portions of the self-sharpening edges, i.e.,rotary cutter edge 8 and station cutter edge 9, are always kept inregister.

The rotating cutter element 1 can be rotated by a rod 14 inserted intocavity 6 and rigidly mounted with pins 19 through orifices 7. This rodcan be rotated with a crank radially and rigidly attached. The crank canbe motivated by a fluid driven piston, electric solenoid or the like.Alternatively, the rod can be furnished with a cam follower and can beactivated by the motion of a cam.

When in use in continuous textile processing on moving yarn, a defectdetector can actuate the rotary filament cutter of this invention to cutout defects. An aspirator to convey yarn to waste storage can be usedwith the cutter of this invention to facilitate handling of defectiveyarn.

In FIG. 7, like numbers are used to describe like ele' ments in previousFIGS. l-6. The figure shows a spring 15 used to urge rotating cutterelement 1 foward against stationary cutter element 10 at tapered surface12. Spring 15 rests against retainer ring 18 which is secured to rod 14.Bearing-bushings 17 hold rod 14 in place and retainer ring 16 set in theslot in stationary cutter element holds the whole device withinstationary cutter element 10. Spring 15 urges rotary element 1 3 ,793 ,91 7 3 4 forward by urging the unrestrained bearing-bushing l7 ceive saidrotting cutter element, said cavity having forward. Pins 19 pass throughorifices 7 to rigidly a cylindrical section and said cavity having atamount rotary Cutte e em t 1 n rod pered section to receive saidconical section of said We claim:

rotating cutter element, said tapered section being A rqtary l Cuttercomprising centered on said cylindrical section, said tapered Zg3:322grg i$g gzfi iafi s$i i 3222a and section having openings inregister with openings of 3 said conduit in said rotating cutterelement, at least meanstfor rotating said rotating cylindrical cuttereleone of said tapered Section Openings having a men tlonary cutteredge,

Sald rotating miner ment havmg a.truncated P so that when said rotatingcutter element is rotated, cal section said conical section having aconduit for passage of filaments said conduit passing perpen- Sald.rotary Cutter edge moves W and past sald dicular to the axis of saidconical section and hav- Statlonary cutter edge to Shear filaments pres'ing a rotary cutter edge at the Opening of Said com ent in said conduitin said rotating cutter element, duit l 5 and said rotating cutterelement being urged into said said conduit having a cylindrical ceramicinsert, positapered Sectlon of said staltionarycylmdncfll Cutter tionedaway from said cutting surface, and said inelement whereby h g Pomons 0f531d rotary sert having an internal conduit in line with said Cutter dgeand Said stationary cutter edge are alconduit so that continuousfilament yarn can pass y kept in register and Said Cutter is Selfthroughboth said conduits in a straight line, 20 sharpening and self-cleaning.

said stationary cutter element having a cavity to re- 3 x5 I UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,793,917Dated Februarv- 26. l97 L lnvengofls) Thomas A. Flower Noel YorkRothmaypr It is eertified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 16, "filament" should be -filaments;

Column 2, at line 31, a new paragraph added by amendment was not addedhere; it was added at the end of the Description of the Embodimentsbefore the claims;

Column 2, line 43, "station" should be --stationary--;

Column 4, line 1, (olaim l) "rotting" should be --rotating--;

' gn 1 an seldthis' laa yd'f dcto ber 197:4.

(SEAL) n.

Att'e'stb' McCOY'M; GIBSON JR. C. DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A rotary filament cutter comprising a rotating cylindrical cutterelement, a stationary cylindrical cutter element, and means for rotatingsaid rotating cylindrical cutter element said rotating cutter elementhaving a truncated conical section said conical section having a conduitfor passage of filaments said conduit passing perpendicular to the axisof said conical section and having a rotary cutter edge at the openingof said conduit, said conduit having a cylindrical ceramic insert,positioned away from said cutting surface, and said insert having aninternal conduit in line with said conduit so that continuous filamentyarn can pass through both said conduits in a straight line, saidstationary cutter element having a cavity to receive said rottinG cutterelement, said cavity having a cylindrical section and said cavity havinga tapered section to receive said conical section of said rotatingcutter element, said tapered section being centered on said cylindricalsection, said tapered section having openings in register with openingsof said conduit in said rotating cutter element, at least one of saidtapered section openings having a stationary cutter edge, so that whensaid rotating cutter element is rotated, said rotary cutter edge movestoward and past said stationary cutter edge to shear said filamentspresent in said conduit in said rotating cutter element, and saidrotating cutter element being urged into said tapered section of saidstationary cylindrical cutter element whereby the cutting portions ofsaid rotary cutter edge and said stationary cutter edge are always keptin register and said cutter is self-sharpening and self-cleaning.